It was historian Carter G. Woodson who conceived the idea of a designated period to acknowledge the contributions of African Americans in the making of America. The year was 1926, and the celebration took place over one week. According to http://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/about.html (accessed January, 2014), ‘The response was overwhelming: Black history clubs sprang up; teachers demanded […]
Dance Recital 2013
Take Your Kids on a Date (No, Really!!)
Relationships should always outweigh agendas. (“Homeschool Minute,” The Old Schoolhouse, February 2009) Years ago, I was blessed to read an article in this particular newsletter entitled “Dating Your Kids.” I was initially precautious, thinking that the […]
How Long is a Homeschool Day?
‘Tis the season to…think seriously about homeschooling your children on next year, or so I am told. Though I could not find an exact number, experts in the field state that many households make a decision to homeschool at about this time of year. As we make that decision, somewhat unintentionally, we can […]
1st Semester 2013 Progress Report: Things are Working!
With half of the school year officially behind us as of Friday (YAY!!!), there is never an inappropriate time to take a progress check and see what’s working. I am well pleased with this 5th grade year, even if it is markedly different than the years I spent at the elementary level with the older […]
May We Have More Algebra, Please?
I will be the first to admit that, in a younger season of homeschooling, I was that parent who took jabs at the public school system. I realize now that I needed to feel better about what we were doing, and so bashing others’ choices was a shameful way of elevating myself. Now having exposed […]
On Cleaning: Who Whistles While They Work?
As a writer, few things are more pleasing than when people are blessed by my words. I am humbled by the feedback that I have gotten most recently regarding my posts about common mistakes and things I wish I’d known, etc. Yet, somewhere in the midst of coming off as the alleged know-it-all (unintentionally, […]
5 Common Mistakes that Keep Homeschools from Thriving
Hindsight truly is 20/20. If we are blessed enough, the Lord moves us from glory to glory, allowing us to reflect upon our past from a place of knowledge, understanding, and peace. Moreover, His soothing balm of grace and mercy allows us to then gracefully share with others our own missteps in the hopes that […]
Gifts Differing: Two Kids, Organized for the School Day
Romans 12:4-8 4For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according […]
Successful Homeschooling: 5 Facts I Wish I’d Known…
In a word, we have been swamped this homeschool year. Hubby has traveled extensively for work such that I do not have much day-to-day help at home. The oldest leaving for college means that I lost my at-home driver while Dad’s away. Our son’s dance activities and college-related activities increased exponentially, meaning that my taxi cab hat is on more often. […]
Helping Your Children Answer the “Normal” Homeschooling Questions
It occurs to me, especially now with older children who are increasingly away from mom and dad, that a bit of education is needed to prepare our children for those who make automatic assumptions about them once our educational choice becomes a part of the conversation. Homeschooling no longer exists under the hide-your-children-inside-until-after-school-hours paradigm where […]
Notebooking the (Homeschool) Day Away
One of my favorite blog-hopping activities is to check out certain blogs and get ideas, especially from kinesthetically (hands-on) oriented bloggers. As a visual learner, I sometimes forget to add in components to our day that allow the busy little hands that belong to our youngest a chance to move! There are homes that thrive […]